MADAWASKA, Maine — An auction for the town of Madawaska’s former land port of entry building that began in August has been indefinitely suspended as a result of the government shutdown.
All links on the federal government’s auction website navigate to a page stating that the site is currently unavailable. A message states, “All registration and bidding is suspended. Bid closing dates on active auctions will be extended based on the duration of the shutdown.”
The auction comes after the building was closed to make way for a new land port of entry and international bridge, which opened last year. The old port of entry building, located at 63 Bridge Avenue, was roughly 65 years old. It was replaced with a new, $73 million facility that is more energy efficient and accommodates more traffic, expanded services, administrative offices and training spaces.
The General Services Administration, in a press release leading up to the auction, stated that it was selling the former port of entry “in the spirit of fiscal responsibility and smart asset management,” and to ensure it is maximizing value for taxpayers and divesting properties no longer in use.
The old building is roughly 5,800 square feet and has a first floor and a basement. It sits on 1 acre and is near the town’s rail line and paper mill.
And while the auction was suspended, activities at the border crossings are deemed essential and will continue amid the government shutdown.
As part of the Department of Homeland Security’s policies during a lapse in appropriations, most government positions deemed as essential will continue to function. According to a procedural document on the DHS website, most U.S. Customs and Border Protection employees will remain working amid the shutdown.
As of Sept. 6, U.S. Customs had 67,792 employees, and estimated 63,243 of them would be kept on duty during a funding lapse.
Other services that will remain available amid the shutdown include mail delivery and social security. Medicaid, Medicare and Affordable Care Act coverage will continue, but that could change depending on the length of the shutdown.
An email sent to GSA Public Affairs Officer Paul Hughes received an automated response indicating that, due to the shutdown, he would be out of the office until further notice.
